The Chief Secretary instructed to take immediate action on giving ESI coverage to contractual and general workers working in all other departments of the state government.
DEHRADUN: Taking strictness on the slow process of giving ESI coverage to contractual and other general workers in the state, Chief Secretary Radha Raturi today summoned a report from Secretary Urban Development in the Secretariat regarding the action taken so far in relation to giving ESI coverage to daily/contractual employees in municipal corporations and municipal bodies. She has given strict instructions to the concerned Secretary that all municipalities and bodies should be reviewed immediately and immediate action should be taken to compulsorily cover the daily/contractual employees, workers working in them under the Employees State Insurance Scheme.
It has been claimed that after the strict instructions of the Chief Secretary, till now the Labor Department has conducted an intensive campaign and conducted surprise checks regarding ESI and issued notices to more than 15000 units, out of which 10000 units have completed the proceedings regarding ESI coverage. Chief Secretary Radha Raturi has once again given instructions to run an intensive campaign regarding the check of ESI coverage in the meeting held on Monday, 25 November.
With the objective of providing health and social security medical assistance, accident cover and other health benefits to the contract and workers in the state and to protect the workers from the risks arising at the workplace as well as to make the workers aware of the benefits of the insurance scheme and their rights, the Chief Secretary has instructed the concerned officers to work on this with top priority and seriousness.
CS Raturi has directed the Rural Development, Youth Welfare, Disaster Management, Finance, Women Empowerment and Child Development Department as well as to prepare an action plan as soon as possible for covering the contract and general workers working in various NGOs under the Employees State Insurance Scheme.
According to government data, the Employees State Insurance Scheme is funded by employer and employee contributions. Employer contribution is 3.25% and employee contribution is 0.75%. Thus, the total amount payable is 4% of the wages. The corporation reimburses 87.5% of the actual expenditure out of 100% of the scheme’s operation to the state government. The number of insured persons in the state is 7,34,343 and the number of their dependents is about 30 lakh. The scheme is being operated in 13 districts, 45 dispensaries and 65 contracted medical institutions in the state. The Employees State Insurance Scheme is a unique social insurance scheme under the Employees State Insurance Act, 1948, which provides protection to workers covered under the organised sector and their dependents in case of illness, maternity, death and disability due to employment injury and occupational diseases.
According to the information received, under the Employees State Insurance Act 1948, 10 or more workers employed in industrial establishments, commercial establishments etc. established in the organized sector in the state and receiving salary up to the limit of ₹ 21,000 and ₹ 25,000 for disabled people are insured by the Employees State Insurance Corporation, Government of India.
Various officers of Finance, Labour, ESI, UPNL, Medical Services Department including Secretary Pankaj Kumar Pandey were present in the review meeting held in connection with the Employees State Insurance Scheme and Labour Medical Services at the Secretariat.
